David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Can the minister outline to the House changes in the budget to make the age pension more sustainable? Can the minister confirm that pensions will increase every year?

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Banks for his question and for his representation of his constituents in the seat of Banks. I can say to the member for Banks that I came across an interesting observation just recently. Let me quote:

In terms of life expectancy, 70 is the new 64.

Indeed, the person who wrote this went on and said:

And in terms of health, 74 is the new 64.

…    …    …   

Yet to look at many of the statutes on our books, you would think that none of these changes had ever occurred.

So I was wondering, who made this prescient and astute observation about 70 being the new 64? Who could it have been who made this observation? Well, he is here in the House. Not on the side of the House but the member for Canberra.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Fraser.

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thought: what an astute and prescient observation about the demographic changes that are occurring in society. Andrew, come on over! The reality is that there is a major change in the demographic patterns in Australia. People are living much longer. When the age pension was introduced in 1907, average life expectancy was less than 60. Today it is well over 80, as the member for Canberra pointed out.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McMahon will resume his seat. I remind the minister that he is the member for Fraser.

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Fraser. I apologise to the member for Canberra. And I would say to the member for McMahon, at least the member for Fraser's books sell more than yours do. There is a great demographic change occurring and that is reflected in the fact that this government is going to ensure that the age pension remains sustainable.

The member for Banks asked, 'Is the age pension going to continue to increase?' Yes, it will—twice a year. In March of this year the age pension increased by $15.70 a fortnight for singles and it increased by $11.90 fortnight for each of a couple. Again in September of this year the age pension will increase, as it will in March and September 2015, and 2016, and 2017. The nonsense that the Labor Party is going on about the age pension is simply, once again, factually incorrect. Under this government the age pension will be sustainable and will continue to increase.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will resume his seat. The member for Jagajaga on a point of order?

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order, Madam Speaker, on relevance. Why are you taking $450 million—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume her seat. There is no point of order. Leader of the House?

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I point out that the member for Jagajaga is a serial offender in coming to the dispatch box and pretending to take a point of order and then just shouting—in fact, shrieking really quite unpleasantly—across the chamber at the government. I would ask you to draw her to order.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I call the member for Kennedy I would simply say that those who are watching question time, those who are in the gallery, are trying to listen to the questions and the answers and we have nothing but a cacophony of noise. I would ask for silence so that we may hear the splendid words of the member for Kennedy and that whoever he is going to direct his question to is given silence in which to answer. The member for Kennedy.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I seek some clarification before asking this question.

Opposition members interjecting—

Please, please, you have heard the Speaker—would you shut up and listen!

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kennedy will withdraw that. It is unparliamentary.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw it. Madam Speaker, am I permitted to address the Treasurer as a North Queenslander, an identification I am sure he will be relying upon on Wednesday night late?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the member for Kennedy is referring to the State of Origin, I have a definite bias for blue. You may refer to the Treasurer. I think you just best refer to him as the honourable the Treasurer.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Could I refer to the member for Leichhardt as the excellent member for Leichhardt?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, you can ask your question—the clock is about to start.